Mantel.



W. G. FISCHER.

. MANTBL.

Arruonlon FILED MAY 23, 1013.

1,102,897. Patented July'7,1914.

2 SHEETS-$353! 1' .r/ 1/ aims ETERE CO: PHOTU-LITHO. WASHINGIUN. D. C-

THE NORRIS P W. G. FISOHERV MANTEL.

' APPLIOATION FILED MAY 28, 1913.

1,102,897. Patented July 7,1914

Lfi: Q Z SHEETS-QEEET 2.

umfllm i.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. FISCHER, OF EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT.

MANTEL.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. FISCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Hampton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mantels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in mantels for fire places and particularly to metal or fire proof mantels.

One object of the invention is to provide a mantel of this character formed in sections and having improved means whereby the sections are detachably connected and held in position for forming the mantel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mantel of this character which may be of simple and inexpensive construction or may be made as elaborate and ornamental as desired and which is designed particularly for use in connection with open grates or fire places.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mantel constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a central vertical section thereof; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig.4 is a perspective view of the back plate of the mantel with the detachable parts removed therefrom. Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective View of the main or lower shaft of the mantel; Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the sheet metal columns of the mantel; Fig. 7 is a similar view of the fender employed in connection with the mantel. Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section through a portion of the back plate of the mantel and one of the column and shelf supporting members illustrating a modified means for attaching said member to the back plate.

In the embodiment of the invention, I provide a main section or back plate 1 which Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1913.

Patented July 7, 1914. Serial No. 770,386.

may be of any desired size and shape and which is here shown as being rectangular. The back plate 1 is preferably constructed of heavy sheetmetal and has its side edges bent rearwardly at right angles to form bracing and wall engaging flanges 2. In the center of the lower portion of the back plate 1 is formed a fire place opening 3 which is disposed over the fire place opening in the chimney and is designed to receive an open grate, latrobe or any other form of heating apparatus. The metal around the edge of the opening 3 maybe ornamented in any suitable manner or left plain as shown. The back plate 1 may also be provided with angle or T-iron reinforcing bars 4: which may be arranged and secured to the rear side of the plate in any suitable manner for strengthening and imparting rigidity thereto. If desired the back of the plate between the side flanges 2 may also have applied thereto a filling or backing of cement, clay or similar material.

Secured to the front side of the back plate 1 between the opening 3 and the side edges thereof are dovetail shaped shelf and column attaching members 5 which extend from the bottom of the plate to the height at which the main shelf of the mantel is to be placed to the height of the columns with which the mantel is provided. The members 5 are preferably formed of sheet metal bent into dovetail shape and having their inner edges bent outwardly to form attaching flanges 6 which are welded or brazed by electricity or other heat producing agency to the back plate 1 or said flanges may have a lock joint engagement with the back plate as shown at 7 in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Also secured to the outer side of the back plate adjacent to the side edges of the opening 3 are spaced or offset cleats 8 by means of which a fender may be detachably secured to the back plate.

Removably engaged with the column and shelf supporting members 5 of the mantel are columns 9 which are preferably formed of sheet metal and-which may be of any suitable shape, design or configuration and which are here shown as being tubular and of substantially cylindrical shape and as extending from the floor to the top of. the members 5. The columns 9 are open at their rear edges and have saidedges bent inwardly at an angle corresponding to the angle of the sides of the members 5 to form flanges 10 which are adapted to be engaged with the angular sides of said members 5 with which the columns 9 are slidably engaged andwhich hold the columns in position on the.

mantel. In applying the columns to the mantels 5 the lower ends of the columns are engaged with the upper ends of the members 5 and the columns slipped down over the same with the flanges 10of the columnsin engagement with the sides of the members- '5, as hereinbefore described. Also supported 7 by the members 5 is a lower or main shelf 11 which is preferably formed of sheetmetal and has its outer edge bent downwardly at right angles to provide a flange 12 which forms the front face of the mantel and which may be of any suitable width and ornamented in any suitable manner. The ends of the shelf 11 are also preferably extended and turned downwardly to form short end flanges 13 which correspond in width to the Width of the front flange 12 and which are brazed or otherwise secured at theirfront edges to the ends of said flange 12 as shown. Brazed, welded or secured in any suitable manner to the lower side of the shell 11 adjacent to the ends thereof and spaced a suitable distance apart are shelf attaching studs 13 which are preferably formed of sheet metal bent in triangular shape and'having the upper ends of the sides bent outwardly to form attaching lugs 14 which are brazed,

welded or securedin any suitable manner tothe bottom of the shelf. The studs 13 may be of any suitable width and are of slightly less size than the members 5 into the upper ends of" which said studs are adapted to be inserted for holding the shelf in position on the upper ends of the members 5 and the columns 9. If desired the mantel may be providedwith an upper shelf 15 which may be of any suitable construction and which is preferably rigidly secured to the back plate 1 bybrazing, welding or in any other suit-' able manner.

Arranged between the columns 9 near the lower ends thereof and disposed-in front of the lower portion of the fire place opening 3 is a fender 16 which is also preferably formed of sheet metal and has its ends bent inwardly at right angles to form spacing members 17 the ends of which are bent inwardly at right angles to form attaching. flanges 18 which are adapted to be engaged with the cleats 8 on the opposite sides of the fire place opening thereby firmly holding the fender in place. The fender 16 may be ofany suitable ornamental design-or configuration and is herein shown'as havingin itsfront side series of slots 19. Whenthe fender is placed in position the flanges 18 on theends-thereofare engaged-with the upper ends. of the ofi'set' cleats and pushed down between the cleats and the outer surface of the backplate as will bereadily understood. While I have herein shownand described ;one arrangement of'the sections or parts of the mantel it is obvious that the parts may be arranged in many other ways to produce difierent styles of mantels and that the parts may-be ornamented or made as fancy as desired. I

From the foregoingdescriptiomtaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of' the inventionwill be readily understoodwithout requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form,proportion and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any ofthe advantagesof the invention as claimed. Having thus described my "invention, what I claim is: I

1. In a mantel of the class described, thecombination with a back plate, ofhollow' column and shelf supporting members secured thereto, columns, said columns and supporting members having cooperating means for interlocking engagement, a shelf, and means depending from said shelf for insertion in said hollow column and shelf supporting members to detachably connect'said shelf with the upper ends of said members. 2. In a mantel the combination with'- a back plate, of column and shelf supporting members secured thereto, columns having an lnterlocklng detachable engagement with said members, shelf attaching members arranged thereon and adapted to telescopically engage with said shelf andcolumn attaching members of the back plate to"detachably support the shelf inposition.

3. Ina fire proof mantel the combination with a metal'back plate, combinedshelf and column supporting members comprising dovetail shaped plates having'on their inner edges attaching flanges adapted to be rigidly secured to the back plate, sheet'qmeta'l columns open at theirrear edgeswhereby they may be engaged with said shelf and column supporting members, flanges formed,

on said'edges of the column to slidably engage said members, a -shelf having'on its outer side and-ends depending flanges, studs secured to the lower side of the shelfand adapted to be engaged with the upper open ends of the combined shelf and column supporting members of the back plate whereby the shelf is detachably secured in places 1. In a mantel, the combination with a back plate, combined shelf and column supporting members comprising dovetail shaped plates secured to' said back plate,

columns open at their rear edges whereby In testimony whereof I have hereunto set they may be engaged with said shelf and my hand in presence of two subscribing witcolumn supporting members, and a shelf nesses.

having studs on its lower face adapted to en- WILLIAM C. FISCHER. gage the upper open ends of the combined Witnesses:

shelf and column supporting members of JACOB BAUER, the back plate. FREDERICK H. BARTON.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cent: each, by addreuln: the Gomminioner ot intents, Washington, D. 0." 

